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Mr. Jimmy FlorCruz, the Filipino bureau chief of CNN
in Beijing, has offered to give up his slot as torch bearer in the
current pre-Olympic relays going on across China. FlorCruz, who
comes from Malolos, Bulacan, was earlier chosen by the Beijing
Olympics Committee as torchbearer, along with his daughter, Miss
Michelle Segovia FlorCruz. He wants that slot to go to a hero in the
recent earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan province.
FlorCruz doesn’t mind giving
his prestigious slot at all. In an e-mail to this columnist, he
said: “My daughter Michelle and I are happy and honored to have
been selected as torch bearers in the ongoing Olympic relay.
However, only Michelle will be running in the relay.
“In light of the events in
Sichuan Province, I have recently taken the personal decision to
forgo the chance to run the Olympic torch relay. I wish to offer my
slot to someone who has made extraordinary contributions during the
earthquake rescue and relief operations, in any field.
“Since my daughter Michelle
will also participate as torch bearer, we think one in the family
will suffice. When she runs in the torch relay, Michelle will
represent our family in expressing our good wishes for Beijing and
the success of the Beijing Olympics.”
Through his reportage in Time
(from the Cultural Revolution to the CNN), Mr. FlorCruz has won high
regard in China. He contributed to a better understanding of China,
like his colleagues Mr. Eric Baculinao and Mr. Chito Sta. Romana,
who are also in media.
It is in that sense that China is
honoring the FlorCruz family. This family is very patriotic, very
Pinoy. Whenever the family members come for a visit in RP, they do
not fail to spend time with relatives in Bulacan and Antique.
Jimmy’s wife is the former Ana Zaldivar Segovia, the granddaughter
of former Supreme Court Justice Calixto Zaldivar.
GMA visit to Panay
The President must have arrived
by now from a visit to the United States. It was reported that her
first order of business is to visit the areas hit by Typhoon Frank.
That is fine. In terms of area and extent of damage, Panay should be
first. But the President should also visit Romblon, particularly the
island of Sibuyan, where hard decisions must be made.
For instance, what should be done
with the sunken Princess of the Stars which is believed to contain
boxes of toxic materials? The Department of Transportation and
Communications has announced it will send divers to open the ship to
retrieve these toxic materials safely. But that is easier said than
done. The presence of these materials is complicating the life of
the people of Sibuyan. They have been forced not to eat fish caught
in the area. And what about the boat itself? Will it be abandoned in
the area?
While in Sibuyan, GMA should also
consult health officials and the residents on banning fishing and
eating fish. I heard Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health
speak about the ban, and he was not categorical about the need for a
ban. The ban, has hurt the livelihood of the people.
As usual, some are infusing
politics of the destructive kind in this latest disaster. Hecklers
abound—and they say that the President should not have gone to the
United States. They seemed to forget that the President was already
enroute to the US when Signal No. 1 was announced. On a diplomatic
level, one does not cancel a visit just like that. Anyway, the
working visit to the United States has been productive.
While the United States, she met
with US President George Bush, had a telephone conversation with
Democratic presumptive presidential candidate Barack Obama and had a
meeting with Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Call
these conversations brief, but they impact on our current and future
national interest.
While in the US, the President
helped the cause of Filipino veterans who fought in the Pacific War.
She also met with leaders and members of the US Congress who could
help push the passage of the veterans bill.
jules42na@yahoo.com
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